PUPILS at a Horley primary school were left “devastated” after vandals broke into an outbuilding and poured oil into their swimming pool.

The incident occurred on Sunday when the burglars scaled a fence at Burstow Primary School in Wheelers Lane, Smallfield, and grabbed cans of oil-based wood stain which were then emptied into the pool.

The gang also threw an interactive whiteboard into the pool and sprayed graffiti onto the walls of several buildings.

Phillipa Rushby, assistant head teacher, said the school had recently bought a new £2,000 cover for the pool that would have to be replaced, and significant other damage was caused as well.

“The sides of the pool are coated with thick tar and oil,” she said.

“The implications are quite serious. The children were told about it at assembly and they were pretty devastated.”

Ms Rushby said the main school building would not be affected as the swimming pool was on a separate site, but time and money would have to be spent on repairing the damage.

“We really value our pool as a community resource,” she said.

“We are one of a very few schools that have their own pool.

“Children receive 10 hours of swimming lessons which not many other schools can manage.

“The children were concerned that they are not going to be able to swim in it next summer, but it will be fully repaired [by then].”

PC Paul Baker said damage totalling £2,500 was caused.

“These were just mindless acts of vandalism which will cost the school a great deal of time and money to put right and will affect the innocent children who attend the school,” he said.

“The school is on the junction of two main roads that run through Smallfield and I’m hopeful someone saw who did this and has the conscience to come forward so we can bring those responsible for such pointless and selfish acts to justice.

“Those responsible may have got stains or paint on their hands or clothing while vandalising the school and I am appealing to members of the public who may have seen anyone with similar marks on their clothes or smelling strongly of wood stain to come forward.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222.